Safety-closure for receptacles.



N0. 875,481. PATENTED DEC. 31, 1907.

L. A. WILSON;

SAFETY CLOSURE FOR REGBPTAGLES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1907.

W/TNESSES INVENTOR 2 5 4 Zguzzm fii/zls'aia ATTORNEYS LYMAN A. WILSON,or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY-CLOSURE FOR RE GEPTACLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 2( ).'1907. Serial No. 358,364.

' Patented Dec. 31, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be' it known that I, LYMAN A. WILsoN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in thecounty and Stateof New York, have invented a new and Improved Safety-Closure for Receptacles, of which the followin is a full, clear, andexact description. his invention relates to certain improvements inclosures for receptacles adapted to contain combustible liquids, such asliquid hydrocarbons, alcohol, and the like, and relates moreparticularly to means whereby the rupturing of the receptacle orignition of the contents thereof is positively prevented.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved form of closurewhich will normally prevent the escape of vapors from the receptacle,but which will be opened upon the application of excessive pressure fromwithin and the escaping vapors" automatically ignited to prevent theformation of an explosive mixture in the room or space surrounding thereceptacle.

A further object of the invention is to pro 'vide'means whereby thesolid impurities are prevented from entering the receptacle, and, at thesame time, the ignition of the contents due to back firing, prevented.

The invention consists in certain features of construction andcombination of parts, all of which will be fully set forth hereinafterand particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures, in whic Figure 1 is a centrallongitudinal section through a closure embod my improvement; and Fig. 2is a perspective view of one of the diaphragms constituting a part ofsaid closure. -I r j My improved closure may be, used in connection witha tankprreceptacle of any suitablechara'cter and-applied to any portionin connection withthe filh thereofdesired, but it is preferably utilizedopening, whicholpleningI may be a mere t eaded e, t oug the upper wallof'the recepta'c eor may embody my specific improvements illustrated thedrawings.

As shown, I providethe tank or rece tacle 10 with a short upwardlyextending tu e 11 opening into the tank at. its lower end and rigidlysecured thereto by means of an annu lar collar 12, 'L-shaped in crosssection. Within the outer end of the tube I secure an annular collar 13su porting an annular flange 14 serving as a iiinncl to facilitate thepouring of liquid into the tube. The collar 13 preferably carries at itsinner end a cylindrical gauze basket 14 fitting the inner wall of thetube 11 and terminating adjacent the inner end of said tube. Within thisbasket I provide a flat, movable wire gauze diaphragm 15 supporting aconical gauze diaese diaphra ms are secured phragm 16. together and fitclosely within the wire bas-' ket and are normally pressed toward theouter end thereof by a coil s ring 17 within the lower portion of saidbas et and engaging with the lower surface of the diaphragms.

The collar 13 isprovided with screw threads upon its inner surfaceandserves to sup ort my im roved plug, the innerend of w 'ch norma yengages with the movable diahragm 15 above referred to, and upon theinsertion of the plug forces, said diaphra toward the lower portion ofthe basket against the action of the coil spring 17. All 0 the partsabove described, save the plug,

constitute a permanent part of the tank or receptacle 10, and serve toeffectively prevent the entrance of any foreign objects, and, at thesame time, revent the contents of the receptacle from while thereceptacle is being filled.

eing accidentally ignited a My' improved plug preferably comprises a.This head is rovided with an axial passage, preferably 0 smaller. crosssectlonal area than the interior of the cylindrical body portion 18, andwithin this cylindrical portion and held against the head are aplurality of- .inembers going 'to make up the major fea- ,tures of myinvention. Supported adjacent thehead 19 and of av diametersubstantially equal-to the interior diameter'of thebody portion 18 is a'perforated diaphragm 20, 1

lustrated in detail in Fig. 2.; This diaphragm serves to close the mnerend of the axial passage 21 through the enlarged head,

and the perforations through said diaphragm aliord means ofcommunication from the inguides for the supports of my .au'tomaticigniter. These supports preferably comprise small rods or wires 2323,each having an enlarged inner end 24, whereby its displacement isrevented. Secured to the outer ends of t ese supporting rods or wires23, I provide a pad 25 of a diameter slightly less than the diameterof'the 'assage 21 and com osed of such a material t at the passage of te gases in contact with said pad will cause the automatic ignition ofthe former. This pad may, if desired, be formed of very thin wire gauzeinclosing platinum sponge, or may be formed of extremely thin platinumor any other suitable agent for accomplishing the desired result.

j phragm 20 in place.

p for the inner end-of the coil sprin Within the body 18 and normallyholding the diaphragm 20 in place, I provide a suitable collar 26 of alength somewhat greater than the length of the ,tubes 22, whereby a freespace is provided about the inner ends of said tubes. Adjacent the innerend of the collar 26 I provide a very thin diaphragm 27 preferably ofsoft copper and having the portion adjacent its periphery soldered to awasher 28 closely fitting the inner wall of the body 18. The thicknessand strength of the diaphragm 27 are so proportioned that this diaphragmmay be ruptured upon the application of a predetermined pressure againstone side thereof. The diaphragm would preferably be constructed torupture and permit the esca e of the gases'from the interior of the tankupon the application of a pressure materially less than that required toopen any of the seams of the tank, or strain or distort the same,whereby anysleak might be formed.

Below the washer 28 I provide a coil s ring 29 serving to hold thewasher, impe orate diaphragm 27, collar 26, and perforated dia- Adjacentthe lower end of the coil s ring I provide a gauze diaphragm -3O, w 'chlatter is held in place by a threaded collar 31 serving-as an abutmentholding all of the above mentlone parts in place. The axialmpiassage 21throu h the head 19 is counters at its outer en and receives a f beveled(plate 32 lying flush with the top of the hea 19 and normall clos' saidpassage. Thisplate is norma y held in place by a spring clip 33frictionally engaging with an annular recess 34 in the wall of thepassage.

My improved device is especially adapted for use in connection .withasolene tanks carried by automobiles oruse in connection therewith. Inthe tank the closure is removed and the 0' may be readily pouredinterior of the tank also serve to 29, andthrough the gauze basket anddiaphragm,

"the latter serving to support all solid impun- After the tank-has beenfilled the 010- ties. sure is screwed in place and a ractically airtightseal thus secured. Sho d the tank become heated externally orif for anyother" reason the pressure within the tank should rise to such an extentthat there is liability. of the tank being ruptured or the seam strainedso as to form a leak, my improved closure serves to relieve thispressure and preserve the tank from injury. The imperorate diaphragm '27is constructed of such a material and of such a thickness that when thepressure within the tankrises above a predetermined limit, thisdiaphragm becomes ruptured and the gases may pass through the perforateddiaphragm 20 and in contact with the under surface of the plate 32; Theinternal pressure displaces this plate and the gas or vapor escapes'tothe atmosphere.

he upward current of the escaping gas or vapor raises the pad 25 to aposition adjacent the upfper surface of the head 19, and the action 0these gases or vapors upon the catalytic substances constituting orenclosed within the pad, raises the temperature of the latter to a pointat which the as or vapor is spontaneouslyignited. The ame not onlyserves to indicate the fact that the diaphragm 30 has been ruptured, butalso prevents the accumulation of an explosive gas in the presence ofthe tank and thus revents any damage which would be cause by theignition of a quantity of this gas after it had escaped.

By so suplporting the pad25 that it may be automatica gas, I cause the ipoint adjacent the outlet from the passage rather than at a point withinthe same, and thus more effectively prevent back firing y raised by thepressure of the gnition to take place at a into the tank; The pluralityof gauze diahragms between the igniting means and the revent anossiblity of the liquid or gas wit in the tan iiom becomin i 'ted. Theplate 32 is normally held in p ace by the means shown, and prevents theadmission of any foreign matter to the interior of the lug, but is sosupported that it may be rea y displaced by the application of pressurefrom the interior. By means of the groove or recess 34 I prevent theplate 32 from becoming accidentally displaced except upon theapplication of excessive pressure.

As previously stated, it isevident that thev improved closure. abovedescribed 'maybe used in connection with any suitable filling opening ofa tank rather than in connection 125 with the specific tube 11 and theparts supported therein, and it is also evident that" various changes mabe made within the scope of theappen ed claims .without departing from.the spirit of my invention.

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 1 Patent:

1. In combination with a tank having a filling opening therein, a safetyclosure for said opening, com rising a plug, a frangible diaphragmcarrie matic igniter supported adjacent the outer side of saiddiaphragm.

2. In combination with a tank having a ,filling opening therein, asafety closure for said opening, comprlsing a plug. having an axialpassage therethrough, a diaphragm norma matic igniter adjacent the outerend of said passage.

3. In combination with a tank having a filling opening therein, a safetyclosure for said opening, comprising a- .plug having a passagetherethrough, a diaphragmnormally closing said passage,.an automaticigniter adjacent the outer end of said passage, and means adjacent theinner end of said passage for preventing back firing.

4. A safety closure for tanks and the like, comprising aplug having anaxial passage therethrough, a frangible diaphragm normally closing saidpassage, aremovable closure for the outer end of said passage, and anautomatic igniter intermediate said closure and said diaphragm.

5. A safety closure for tanks and the like, comprising av plug'having anaxial passage therethrough, a frangible diaphragm nor-' mallyclosingsaid passage, and an automatic igniteradjacent the outer end ofsaid passage, said igniter comprising a catalytic agent.

6. A safety closure for tanks and the like, comprising a plug having anaxial passage therethrough, a, removable closure for the outer end ofsaid passage, an automatic igniter comprising a catalytic agentsupported within said passa e adjacent said closure, a frangible diapagm normally closing said passage, and means whereby the iglniter may emoved to a position adjacent t e outlet of the passage upon therupturing of the diaphragm and the displacement of the removableclosure.

7. A safety closure for tanks and the like, comprising a plug having anaxial passa e therethrough,'a removable plate normally closing the outerend of said passage, a spring clip for normally holding said late inposition, a catalytic agent adapte to act as an automatic igniter suported within said passage adjacent said p ate and movable to a positionadjacent the outlet of the passa e 5 ,upon the removal of said plate, afrangib e thereby, and an autoy closingsaid passage, and an autoadjacentsaid diaphragm, a movable auto 'matic igniter comprising a pad includinga catalytic agent, and means secured to said pad and extending throughsaid perforated plate for supporting the former and limiting itsoufiward movement.

9. In combination, a receptacle having a filling opening, 'a wire gauzebasket supported within said opening, a gauze partition movable withinsaid basket, means intermediate the bottom of said basket and saidpartition for normally forcing said partition outward; and a safetyclosure for said opening comprising a plug adapted to contact with saidpartition and force the same inward, said plug having an axial passagethroughout, a frangible diaphragm for closing said passage, and an,automaticigniter adjacent the outer end of said passage.

10. A safety device for use in connection with the storage ofcombustible fluids, in-

cluding a frangible diaphragm, and an igniter mounted adjacent thereto.

11. A safety device for use in connection with the storage ofcombustible fluids, including a closure adapted to permit the passage offluid upon the application of a fluid pressure in excess of apredetermined limit, and an igniter adjacent the outer-surface of saidclosure.

12. A safety device for use in connection with the storage ofcombustible fluids, including a closure adapted to permit the assage offluid upon the application of a fliiid pressure in excess of apredetermined limit, an igniter adjacent the outer surface of saidclosure, and means adjacent the opposite

